waiting list

[/ˈweɪtɪŋ lɪst/]
nounpl: waiting lists
lista de espera
1. a list of people waiting for something that is not immediately available, such as a service, appointment, or product
I was placed on the waiting list for the surgery and should receive an appointment within three months.
Fui colocado na lista de espera para a cirurgia e devo receber uma consulta dentro de três meses.
2. a queue of applicants or customers awaiting availability or admission
The restaurant has a waiting list of 45 people for dinner reservations tonight.
O restaurante tem uma lista de espera de 45 pessoas para reservas de jantar esta noite.
The concept of waiting lists is particularly prevalent in healthcare systems, both in Brazil and the USA. In Brazil's public healthcare system (SUS), waiting lists are common for specialized procedures. In the USA, waiting lists are typical for surgeries, specialist appointments, and popular restaurants. The term reflects the organized queue system used in modern service industries.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
queuebacklogreservation liststandby list
Antonyms / Antônimos
immediate availabilityinstant service

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
lista de espera
most common term used throughout Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
lista de espera
standard usage
São Paulo
lista de espera
standard usage, sometimes fila de espera in informal contexts
Portugal
lista de espera
identical to Brazilian Portuguese; common in healthcare and services

Related Words

queueappointmentreservationappointment schedulerpriority listwaitlist management

Related Idioms & Phrases

put someone on the waiting list
get off the waiting list
move up the waiting list
Look up more words on Fala2Me
The free English-Portuguese dictionary with real Brazilian accents, NYC slang, conjugator and more
Open Fala2Me →